| In the Market Place Theatre, Armagh , on March 8 and March 9, principals and teachers from 15 link pairs of primary schools considered how story telling could be used as a tool to learn about other cultures.
The conference in Limavady, funded by the Department of Education, looked at ‘Improving Community Relations: Sharing Practice’. It provided a significant opportunity for teachers from both the primary and post-primary sectors to share ideas with other practitioners across the five Education and Library Boards.
Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council and key-note speaker, said: “ Perhaps the most important challenge facing young people today is learning to relate to other people in an increasingly diverse society. Skills like dialogue, learning with and from others and expressing opinions clearly but without violence or threat are no longer optional but critical tools for successful adults. Schools and youth organizations should be places which promote these capacities and values through their structures, curriculum and staff training.”
The second event was held in the Market Palace Theatre, Armagh , on March 8 and 9.
Patricia Blackman, SELB Assistant Advisory Officer, said: “Principals and teachers from 15 link pairs of primary schools across the Board considered how we are all story-tellers and can use this to learn more about other cultures and traditions as well as have fresh insights to our own stories.
“Teachers participated in a range of creative workshops, which were facilitated by Alan McBride and Beth McGrath (WAVE). Teachers were given the opportunity to consider how what they had learned over the two days could be used in helping children develop a greaterunderstanding of each other as they engage in programmes funded under the Schools Community Relations Programme.”
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